Poroshenko: 11 EU States Struck Deal with Ukraine to Deliver Weapons
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Ukraine has concluded deals with eleven countries of the EU on delivery of weapons, including lethal, President Petro Poroshenko told the country’s TV. He, however, didn’t mention which countries will provide ‘defensive aid’ to Kiev.
“The Head of State has informed that Ukraine had contracts with a series of the EU countries on the supply of armament, inter alia, lethal one. He has reminded that official embargo of the EU on the supply of weapons to Ukraine had been abolished,” said a statement on Poroshenko’s official website, citing his interview to the TV channel "1+1".
According to Poroshenko’s statement, he is confident that EU and USA will support Ukraine with weapons if needed.
"If there is a new round of aggression against Ukraine, I can surely say that we will immediately receive both lethal weaponry and new wave of sanctions against the aggressor. We will act firmly and in a coordinated manner.”
Ukraine won’t reduce its defense capacity, said Poroshenko, adding that now “intensive combat training is being held” in the country, RT reported.
“We are mining the most dangerous tank directions and building engineering structures under the new plan and projects."
The statement said that the decision of the US President Barack Obama “who decided to supply Kiev with defensive weaponry” is crucial.
“This armament will increase preciseness and efficiency of the Ukrainian weapons. In addition, thermal imagers and radars that detect motion help counteract reconnaissance and subversive groups of the opponent.”
The Ukrainian leader said the situation in Donetsk and Lugansk Regions is being gradually deescalated, adding that the Ukrainian army hasn’t suffered casualties for several days.
In the meantime, the head of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic, Igor Plotnitsky, said he doesn’t understand why Kiev is planning to buy weapons while the country is seeing a peaceful process. He was referring to a peace deal which was struck between the Ukrainian government and the rebels in the south-east of the country in Belarusian capital Minsk on February 12, after almost a year of fighting.
